Timer



March 3, 1942. RHODES TIMER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. H. RHODES TIMER March 3, 1942.

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 7 TIMER Marcus 11. Rhodes, Hartford, Conn., assignor to M. H. Rhodes, 1110., Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,682

(01. Nil-23) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to timers, and more'particularly to timers which carry out one or more operations at a predetermined time.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a timerwhich gives a signal at the termination of a predetermined time; the provision of a timer, which, at the end of a predetermined time, will carry out an operation, such as cutting a current, giving an alarm, or both; the provision of a timer which may be adjusted to measure a large variety of predetermined periods of time at will; and the provision of a timer which may be adjusted to carry out a given operation, during an indefinite period of time, and then operated to continue carrying out the operation, over a predetermined period of time. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of g which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partially in of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a right end elevation of the Fig. 1 embodiment;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the lower left portion of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in a different position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of parts of the operating mechanism of the Fig. 3 embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in either Fig. 5 or Fig. 9;

Fig. '7 is a section similar, to Fig. 6, but showing a different position of the mechanism;

Figi8 is a front elevation of an. alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig, 9 is a right end elevation of the Fig. 8 embodiment; and,

Fig. 10 is a section takenalong the line Ill-Iii on Fig. 9. r

Similar reference characters indicate corre- 'sponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The present invention relates to center-stud mounted timing devices such as shown and described in Patent No. 2,194,448 to the present apsection plicant. Such timing devices, upon the termination of a predetermined period of time, deliver a signal, such as by striking a bell, to indicate that the time has elapsed. The timers of the present invention, however, not only deliver an audible signal, such as striking a bell, but also carry out an additionalact, such as cutting a current or the like. I

Referring now to the drawings, the timing mechanism may be mounted upon any suitable frame, shown generally at I. A time-measuring device of any of the customary clockwork types may be. employed, which in general embodies a gear train and a means for storing energy. such as a spring. This is represented at 2. Winding and actuating shaft 3 carries a knob l for thedual purpose of accomplishing the winding and actuating operation, and serving as a pointer to show what amount of the predetermined time remains. This shaft 3 is driven by the clockwork mechanism, and is preferably mounted in a housing I on case I. The clockwork itself is prefera 1y mounted on a framework, such as bars 6 and 1 and plates l4 and ii. The shaft 3 hasmounted thereon two plates 8 and 9, located adjacent to each other. Plate 8 is mounted firmly upon shaft 3, while plate 9 is rotatably mounted thereon. A projection III, which may be formed from the plate itself, projects downwardly-from plate 8, to cooperate with slot II in plate 9. Plate 8 likewise has a cam l2, which cooperates with a pin it, attached to the frame mounting, in this case plate It, to prevent rotation of shaft 3 in the wrong direction and also to stop the clockwork mechanism upon the expiration of the predetermined time. i

It will be noted that plate 8 is provided with a notch it, one side of which I1 is substantially perpendicular, while the other side It is slanting. Plate 9 is likewise provided with anotch l9, both sides of which are perpendicular. Cooperating with these notches l8 and i9 is member 20, having a portion 2! located thereon. Member 20 is mounted on plates it and I5, by means of projections 23 and 22, respectively. v

Mounted on bar 6 is a circuit-controlling assembly 2!. Assembly 24 comprises two spring members 25 and 26, carrying at their ends elec- The operation of the device is as follows:

Fig. 1 illustrates the position of the mech anism when the timer has completed the operation of measuring the predetermined time, and has stopped. It will be noted that contact buttons 21 and 28 are separated, and that the portion 2| of member 28 occupies the slots I and I3 in plates 8 and 9. In this position insulator 30 exerts substantially no pressure upon spring 25 although it is located adjacent thereto. If the pointer 4 mounted upon shaft 3 is now rotated, carrying with it shaft 3, the plates 8 and 9, and winding the clockwork mechanism, the portion 2| of member 28 rides up over the gradual incline in slot l6, indicated at l8, and is substantially completely out of the slots l8 and I9 before projection l0 cooperates with slot H in plate 9 to begin rotation of plate 8. Projection 2| is then clear of the vertical edge of slot IS. The moving of member 28 by this operations, brings insulator 38 into contact with spring 25, and forces the contact button 21 into contact with button 28, thus closing a circuit. Rotation of the knob 4 may then be continued to the desired extent to mark out a predetermined period of time. To aid in this setting operation, a pin 3| may likewise be positioned upon plate I4 to prevent rotation of the assembly beyond a predetermined point. Pin 3| will contact cam l2 when the predetermined point has been reached, thus preventing further rotation.

If knob 4 is now released, the clockwork mechanism which has been wound by the previous operation will now operate the device, rotating plate 8 in the opposite direction. It will likewise serve to rotate plate 9 as soon as projection In cooperates with slot H for this purpose. Plate 3 lags behind plate 8, both in the winding and setting operation, and in the subsequent timing. Thus the slanting portion l8 of notch IS on plate 8 is reached by projecting portion 2| before the corresponding vertical side of slot I9 is reached. This is shown particularly in Fig. 3. Projection 2| then is retained in position by plate 9 until subsequent rotation of plate 8 has carried plate 3 far enough so that portion 2| drops over the vertical edge of slot 9 and ,into the Fig. 1 position. This occurs with a snap-action, since the edge of slot I9 is substantially vertical. The dropping of projection 2| releases the tension upon springing member 25, which was imparted through insulator 30. Member 25 then operates to separate contact buttons 21 and 28, likewise with a snap-action. It will be understood of course. that it is the tension in springing member 25 which forces portion 2| into slot i9 as soon as the edge thereof has been reached, thus separating the contacts.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The mechanism is similar to that shown in the previous embodiment, but plates 32 and 33 are connected by a pin 34 attached to plate 32, which cooperates with a slot 35 located in the central portion of plate 33. Member 35, which cooperates with plates 32 and 33, is provided with a pin 31 which cooperates with the slots in plates 32 and 33. These slots are similar in form to those in the previous embodiment. Member 36 is provided with an insulator 38, as shown, for closing the contacts 21 and 28 by imposing tension upon springing member 25. Member 36 is mounted on rivet 39, and has a portion 48 adapted to cooperate with a hammer 4| and strike a bell 42.

A spring 43 is likewise provided to assist in the operation of member 35.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:

Plates 32 and 33, which are mounted upon shaft 3 as before, are rotated by means of pointer 4, during which time the clockwork mechanism is being wound. Pin 31 is lifted out of the slots in plates 32 and 33 as the winding operation is begun, thus tensioning spring 43, as well as member 25, and closing contacts 21 and 28. Portion 43 is likewise retracted to deliver a blow through the hammer 4|. Rotation of the shaft 3 by knob 4 is discontinued when the desired time has been set. Thereupon the clockwork mechanism begins rotation of the shaft 3 assembly in the opposite direction. Plate 33 lags behind plate 32 for the reasons outlined in connection with the previous embodiment, but upon the pin 31 reaching the vertical edge of the slot in plate 33, the spring 43 and springing member 25 snap member 35 into the Fig. 6 position. Fig. 7 illustrates the position of the mechanism shortly before this takes place. When this occurs, the tension in member 25 separates the contacts, while the motion of the member 36, particularly of its portion 40, imparted both by the spring 43 and by the member, 25, causes part 43 to strike hammer 4|, which in turn strikes bell 42 to cause the desired signal.

Accordingly upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time, which may be varied widely by discontinuing winding the knob 4 at any desired point, an audible signal is given by the hammer 4| striking bell 42, and at the same'time the circuit is broken by the separation of contacts 21 and 28.

A still further embodiment is illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. The dial in this instance, instead of merely having figures thereupon, as would be the case with the previous embodiments. also has a segment illustrated at 43. This is marked Hold for reasons which will become clear as the mechanism is described. As is indicated by the section line 8-8 on Fig. 9, a view taken along this line on the embodiments of Figures 8, 9 and 10 will be identical with Fig. 6. The circuit making and breaking apparatus, the plates 32 and 33, and associated mechanism, including the hammer 4|, bell 42, etc. are in every way analogous. However, the Fig. 8-10 embodiment. incorporates an additional feature shown particularly in Fig. 10. The clockwork mechanism 2 includes an escapement wheel 44. Mounted upon shaft 3 is cam member 45, which is rotatable therewith. Cam 45 cooperates with a stop 46 attached to plate l5, to function as pin 3| dOes in the Fig. 1 embodiment. Also attached to plate I5 is arm 41, which may be mounted thereon as by a pin 48. A spring 43 positions arm 41 against cam member 45, and prevents the portion 50 of arm 41 from contacting escapement wheel 44. Portion 50, it will be noted, projects so as to be able to contact the escapement wheel 44. Rotation of shaft 3 and cam member 45 from the solid-line position, to the dotted-line position 5|, brings cam 45 into contact with member 41. Continued rotation brings the portion 50 of member 41 into contact with escapement wheel 44, as shown in dotted lines, thus stopping the mechanism. Rotation of cam member 45 back in the opposite direction, however. releases member 41 and lets spring 43 lift member 41 and bring the portion 50 out of contact withescapement wheel 44.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that rotation of shaft 3 sufllciently far so that cam 45 passes the BI position, will operate to stop the clockwork mechanism. The pointer 4 will in this instance be in the region 43 of the dial which has been denominated Hold." Although the clockwork mechanism is stopped at this point, the contact 21 and 28 are closed, since pin 31 is out of the slots in plates 32 and 33. Inasmuch as the clockwork is not operating, the contact will remain closed, and pointer 4 will remain in the Hold" area indefinite-1y until moved therefrom by hand to a position where cam 45 will permit spring 49 to release the escapement wheel 44.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the present invention provide a timing mechanism adapted to measure a wide variety of predetermined times, and at the end of said times to operate an audible signal, and likewise to carry out an additional operation, such as breaking a circuit. In addition, a timing mechanism of this type has been disclosed which may be placed in a position where it will remain potentially operative over an indefinite period, and will maintain a circuit closed, but will require manual initiation of a subsequent predetermined period of operation.

It will be understood that pointer 4 cooperates with a suitable scale to tell at all times the extent of the unexpired portion of the predetermined period. The clockwork mechanism is selected to provide the proper range of times from which to choose. The greater the range from which to choose, however, the less accurate can be the setting of pointer 4, as is true of any dial setting.

The selection of a period of time on the deviceof the present invention is not irrevocable. The period may be extended, decreased or terminated at any time, merely by moving pointer 4 to the appropriate position. Pointer 4 is connected directly to the energy-charged means (e. g., a spring) and rotates with it so that the energyof the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A timing mechanism comprising clockwork, a main shaft therefor, means for rotating said shaft and winding the clockwork, a pair of contacts one of which is resilient and normally tends to move away from the other, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to move the resilient contact into contact with the other as it moves in one direction about its pivot, and a pair of slotted discs on said shaft one of which may rotate relative to the other as the shaft turns, a part of said arm normally resting in said slots and adapted to be forced out of said slots as the clockwork is wound and close said contacts and to reenter said slots at the end of a predetermined time and allow the contacts to separate.

2. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 1. including a casing in which the aforesaid parts are positioned and a bell supported on said casing adapted to be sounded on movement of said arm.

3. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which said means for rotating the shaft includes a pointer, and a dial with which said pointer coacts.

storing mechanism is directly responsive to the 4. A timing mechanism comprising a housing, clockwork therein, a main shaft therefor, a pointer handle for rotating said shaft and winding the clockwork, a dial with which the pointer coacts, a pair of electrical contacts one of which is resilient and normally tends to move away from the other, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to move the resilient contact whereby it engages with the other as it moves in one direction, and a pair of slotted discs on said shaft one of which may rotate relative to the other as the shaft turns, a part of said arm normally resting in said slots and adapted to be forced out of said slots as the clockwork is wound and close said contacts and to reenter said slots at the end of a predetermined time with a snap action and allow the contacts to separate.

5. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 4. including an audible signal actuated as the contacts move in one direction.

6. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 4, including an' audible signal actuated as the contacts move in one direction, said signal including a bell covering the front of the housing and a striker within the bell and coacting with said arm.

MARCUS K. RHODES. 

